Most St. Peter motorists don’t even think about their car air conditioning system unless it fails. That’s because many St. Peter and Le Sueur motorists don’t really understand that auto A/Cs need periodic service. Let me share some of the reasons why they fail.

First, like every machine, the minivan air conditioner parts need – you guessed it – lubrication. The lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool). Remember that even if the air conditioner is still blowing out cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts may be used up: and unlubricated parts can fail in all MN cars.

Now here’s a tip for St. Peter auto owners: Run your air conditioner every so often during MN winters. This circulates the lubricant to help keep the seals from drying out.

The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your minivan windshield during MN winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some St. Peter cars you can’t run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me why, but I suspect lawyers were involved.

Also, air and water can get into the A/C system. That can reduce the efficiency of the system and also lead to corrosion that causes damage. Cleveland auto owners should periodically purge the system and replace the refrigerant to remove the air and water.

St. Peter drivers would be wise to learn the important early warning signs of A/C trouble: 1) The air’s not as cold as it used to be. 2) Unusual noises when the A/C cycles on. Those are signs to get your vehicle into Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter before the damage gets worse.

By following the recommended service intervals in your minivan owner’s manual, you can help prevent mechanical failure of your air conditioning system. Your A/C system contains some expensive components like the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Anything Kasota and Le Sueur car owners can do to lengthen the life of their A/C is well worth it.

As St. Peter consumers, we live in a disposable society. It’s amazing all the stuff we throw away.

New stuff comes out so fast in MN, and much of it is fairly cheap, so we just toss the old and move on. It seems like when we were kids in Cleveland, our parents were real sticklers about taking care of our stuff – especially parents who grew up in the Depression. You know, hang up your clothes, polish your shoes, put away your toys. If something got lost or ruined by neglect, tough, we had to do without. 

St. Peter motorists couldn’t afford new cars very often, so we tried to make them last as long as we could. It’s a good thing that cars are more reliable these days. They just don’t break down as often. And the good news for us St. Peter penny pinchers is that a modern car can easily go 200,000 miles with proper care. The engineering’s there and so is the manufacturing quality. The missing ingredient is us making sure we follow the car maker’s maintenance schedules.

Is it really that bad for St. Peter motorists to get off schedule? Well, it all adds up. Every time you go a couple thousand extra miles between oil changes, you’ve created an opportunity for harmful sludge to form and clog passages. Then some parts don’t get oiled and they start to wear out faster. 

Skip a cooling system service, and the corrosion inhibitors become depleted, and the radiator starts being damaged – one step closer to a failure. The same thing is true for transmission service, power brakes, fuel system cleaning – really everything on your schedule.

It’s also even more important for older vehicles in the St. Peter area. Those engines and other systems have had more time to get dirty, so they’re working harder anyway. But it’s never too late for St. Peter car owners to get back on track with critical maintenance and to hold off further pricey damage.

It’s just another example of our parents knowing what’s best. (Surprising how often that happens.) And it really does start with the oil change, just like Dad said. When you get a full service oil change they top off all your fluids and check for other items that are on your maintenance schedule. That’s like your safety net; go in for oil changes on time, and let your tech at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter help you keep track of the rest.

Of course, it is inevitable for St. Peter drivers that some things are going to wear out along the way – critical stuff like alternators, water pumps and such – they don’t last forever. But that stuff is cheaper than a new car payment. And taking care of problems early means they have less time to cause other problems. It’s like having high cholesterol; you don’t want to wait for a heart attack before you address it.

Autotronics of ST Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290

Many St. Peter car owners have been hearing about technological advances in power steering, specifically, electric power steering. Some very high-end cars have been featuring electric power steering for a few years now. An electric motor directly provides the power assist to make steering easier. Undoubtedly we’ll see much more of this in St. Peter as full electric cars and electric hybrids become more common.

The vast majority of cars and trucks serviced at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter use a hydraulic power boost system. With hydraulics, fluid is pressurized by a pump which actuates a hydraulic cylinder to reduce steering effort. Some of these pumps are powered by an electric motor. Most pumps are powered by the serpentine belt driven by the engine.

Power steering fluid has the necessary hydraulic properties and the ability to lubricate the internal parts. The power steering fluid also protects minivan components from rust and corrosion.

St. Peter car owners should be aware that automobile manufacturers recommend that the fluid be replaced on schedule. At Autotronics of ST Peter, the old fluid is drained and the system cleaned thoroughly. Fresh fluid is then installed.

Unfortunately, many St. Peter drivers don’t realize how vital it is to service their power steering, and some may not even know that it’s necessary in the first place. A neglected power steering system can develop leaks that will shorten the life of the pump.

St. Peter motorists should be aware of warnings that indicate possible power steering problems: the need to constantly add power steering fluid, a loud whining from the pump, erratic power assist or high steering effort. If you’re experiencing any of these problems, have your power steering checked out at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter.

In addition to the pump and hydraulic system, there are vital mechanical parts in the steering system. The rods, arms, joints and knuckles that actually turn the wheels can become worn or damaged. A standard alignment service at Autotronics of ST Peter includes an inspection of steering components.

If you notice any play in the steering wheel, that the steering wheel is off center, or a noise coming from your front wheels, especially when turning, have your knowledgeable Autotronics of ST Peter service advisor do an inspection so the problem can be corrected. Waiting too long could cause uneven tire wear and may even lead to steering failure. Call Autotronics of ST Peter today at 507.934.9290.